Power sewing machine table



55 I 1 F o\ Lax y 2, 1940-, H. T. HALLOWEYLL 2,206,774

POWER SEWING MACHINE TABLE Filed Dec. 14, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 2,1940. H. 1-. HALLOWELL POWER SEWING MACHINE TABLE Filed Dec. 14, 1936 3Shuts-Sheet 2 July 2, 1940.

H. T. HALLOWELL ,206,774 POWER SEWING MACHINE TABLE Filed D60. 14, 19363 ShQBtS-ShQBt 5 I heroz arf 1 ig flamzv Patented July 2, 1940 6 UNITEDSTATES POWER SEWING MACHINE TABLE Howard 'I. Hallowell, Jenkintown, Pa.,assignmto Standard Pressed Steel 00., Jenkintown, Pin, a corporation ofPennsylvania Application December 14, 1936, Serial No. 115,866

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in leg structures forpower-operated sewing machine tables.

One object of the invention is to provide a leg structure that shall becharacterized by strength and durability coupled with a high degree ofadjustability,

Another object of the invention is to provide a leg structure affordingindependent adjustment of the table-top and of the bearings for the lineshafts.

Toward this latter end another object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved form of adjustable shaft bearing bracket.

A further object of the invention, is to provide in a leg structure ofthe stated type a novel and improved means for supporting the troughwhich forms a part of the conventional table structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide atrough-supporting device that shall be adaptable for use with troughsboth of metal and of wood.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means forsupporting and clamping a metal trough in the table structureso that itwill be entirely free from vibrationnoises.

The invention further resides in certain novel structural features anddetails I hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attacheddrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in perspective of a table leg structure made inaccordance with my invention; i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detached view in perspective of one of the shaft-bearingsupport brackets;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a modified form of leg structure.within the scope of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a detached View in perspective of one of the elements of theleg structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing one form oftrough support;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View showing details of theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 6; l i

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88, Fig. 6; f

Figs. 9 and 10 are, respectively, fragmentary views inperspectiveshowing a detail of the construction;

Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views similar to that of Fig.6 and illustrating modified forms of trough support;

Figs. 13 and 14 are enlarged fragmentary sectional Views showing detailsof the construction illustrated in Figs, it and 12, respectively;

(01. fill- 13) Figs. 15 and 16 are, respectively, sectional views on thelines l5-l5 and l6l6, of Figs. 13 and 14, respectively;

Fig. 1'7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form oftrough structure as applied to the trough-supporting means of thecharacter shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. .18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing details ofthe construction shown in Fig. 1'7;

Fig. 19 is a view in perspective of trough elements, and j I Fig. 20 isan end elevational View of the trough section shown in Fig. 19.

With reference to the drawings, the leg structure illustrated in Figs..1 to 3, inclusive, cornprises spaced uprights I, l cross sectionally ofU-formation which constitute the base elements of the legs proper.Theseuprights l, l are con nected by a transverse member 1.. in the formof an inverted channel the ends of which, preferably, are welded withinthe channels of the respective uprights i, l. Each of the uprights i issupported upon a foot member 3 preferably in the form of plates havinginverted cup-like mid sections to which the lower edges of the uprightsl are welded. Slidably mounted in the channel of each of the uprights iis an upper leg section l of U-shape cross section which carry an uppertransverse member 5, the memher 5 being in the form of an invertedchannel, and the upper ends of the leg sections 4 preferably beingwelded in the latter. Each of the upper leg sections 4 has alongitudinal slot t which lies in registration with an aperture in theouter side of the associated lower leg section 6, and bolts 1 passthrough the said registering apertures and slots and constitute a meansfor securing the upper leg sections i! in adjusted position within thelower leg sections. Preferably. the fit between the respective upper andlower leg sections is sufficiently loose to permit a limitedlongitudinal adjustment of one of the telescoped legs l-d independentlyof 'the other leg to thereby adjust the top member 5 angularly withrespect to the surface upon which the leg structure may be mounted.

Immediately above the cross bar 2 each of the uprights I is provided inits outer surface with a slot B and to this slotted portion of each ofthe uprights is clamped a bracket 6. This bracket as shown in Figs. 2and 3 comprises an angle piece H constituting the bracket proper thevertical web l2 of which is secured preferably by welding to the face ofa plate E3. The plate I3 in assembly and as shown in Fig. 2 is adaptedto engage the inner side of the associate upright l, and the verticaledge portions of the plate It are channeled, as indicated at M, forreception of the vertical edges of the upright I. .A bolt [5 one of thepasses through apertures in the vertical web of the bracket I I and inthe plate I3 and through the slot 6 in the associated upright I, andalso through an aperture in a U-shaped clamping element I6 which engagesand embraces the outer face of the upright I. tightened on the bolt I5against the web I2, see Fig. 2, the plate I3 and the clamping element I6are drawn together upon the opposite sides of the upright I and securelyclamp the bracket in adjusted position upon the upright. The brackets 9as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1 are adapted to support bearingsI8 in which are journaled the line shafts I9, these shafts in assemblyextending longitudinally of and below the top of the table and havingconnection with the individual sewing machine units. Preferably thebearings I8 are of the type in which the journal proper 2| whichdirectly supports the shaft is mounted on transverse trunnions 22 in asupporting base 23, the latter being secured on the bracket 9 by meansof bolts extending through a longitudinal slot 24 in the horizontal webof the latter. By reason of this construction the journal-s are to adegree self-adjustable, and otheradjustments to effect true alignment ofthe respective shafts I9 may be effected through adjustment of the base23 upon the bracket II and by adjustment of the bracket II onthe uprightI.

Depending from the under side of the top transverse bar 5 is a saddlestrap 25 which is adapted to support a trough II, the trough in assemblyextending longitudinally of the table structure. In Figs. 6 to 16,inclusive, I have illustrated three different methods of supporting thesaddle strap 25. In the embodiments shown in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive,the upper ends of the saddle strap 25 are attached to opposite ends of atransverse channel member 26, the upper terminal ends of the saddlestrap 25 being turned inwardly, as indicated at 21, into the bottom andat the opposite ends of the channel 26 and being welded to the latter.To afford rigidity and strength in the saddle 25, the latter as shown inFig. 9 is provided with a centrally located longitudinal pressed-out rib28, this rib extending continuously from one extremity to the other andprojecting from the inner surface of the saddle. The rib 28 in theinturned portions 21 of the saddle passes downwardly into slots 29provided at each end of and in the bottom wall of the channel member 26.As previously set forth, these inturned ends are welded to thetransverse member. This saddle structure may be suspended from thetransverse top member or channel 5 of the leg structure by means of asingle bolt 3| which passes downwardly through a slot 32 in thetransverse member 5 and through the bottom of the upright channel member26 of the saddle structure, said bolt supporting the member 26 in thechannel of the transverse member 5, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 11, 13 and 15, the saddle strap 25a isprovided at each extremity with an eye 33 adapted for reception of bolts34 which pass transversely through the depending webs of the channelcross bar 5, see Fig. 15, and. which thereby support the extremities ofthe saddle 25a in the under side of the cross bar.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 12, 14' and 16, the upper turned-outextremities of the saddle strap 25b are supported between the dependingsides of the cross bar 5 upon U-shaped plates When the nut I1 is I 35which embrace the under side of the cross bar 5 and are fastened to thecross bar by bolts 36 which extend downwardly from the top of the latterand through apertures in the turnedout extremities of the saddle strap25b and in the plate 35, a nut 31 engaging the lower threaded end of thebolt 36 at the under side of the plate 25. In each instance it will benoted that the saddle member is supported at the top on the cross bar 5and in effect is suspended from the latter. 9

In the table assembly a plurality of the leg structures described aboveare arranged in alignment at spaced intervals and are united at theirtops by means of suitable longitudinal top elements which rest upon andare positioned at opposite ends of the cross bars 5, and are secured tothe cross bars by means of bolts (not shown) which pass through slots 38provided for their reception in the top and at the ends'o-f the crossbar 5, as indicated in Fig. 1. In Figs. 6, '7, 11, 12, 13 and 14, thetable-top members referred to above are indicated by the referencenumeral 39. As illustrated, these top members extend inwardly from theedges of the table to the opposite sides of the central trough. In apreferred embodiment, the said trough is composed of a plurality oflongitudinal sections corresponding in length to the distance betweenthe respective leg structures, and one of these sections is shown inFigs. 19 and 20 and is designated by the reference numeral M. Thistrough section in the present instance is composed of two parts, 42, 42,which respectively form the sides of the trough and half of the bottom.Each of the parts 42 has at its lower inner edge a depending flange 43,which flanges abut each other and preferably are bolted together tothereby unite the portions 42. The side walls of the trough are slightlyflared and correspond in this respect to the form of the saddles 25, 25aand 25b. At the upper longitudinal edges the side walls are turned.outwardly and downwardly, as indicated at 44, to form. in effect aresilient bead at the upper longitudinal edges of the trough, and at thetop of these beads is secured by suitable means a plurality of pads orgaskets 45 which may suitably be formed of sheet cork and which functionfor a purpose hereinafter described. In assembly, the respectiveterminal ends of each trough section are secured to the saddle 25, 25aor 25b of adjoining leg structures, and the trough being of greaterdepth than the saddle, the upper edges thereof project above the top ofthe saddle and to a point above the upper surface of the upper cross bar5 of the leg structure. To this end, each of the upper corners of thetrough section is cut away as indicated at 46 to accom modate the crossbar 5, the complementary cut- I cuts 46 of the adjoining trough sectionsbeing of a width to afford a relatively close fit between the trough andthe said cross bar 5.

As shown in Figs. 6, '7, 11, 12, 13 and 14, the inner edges of thetable-top elements 39 are rabbetted from the under side, thus providinga recess 41 into which fits the beaded upper edges of the trough 4|. Thedimensions of the various parts are such preferably that in assembly thetable-top elements bear forcibly upon the upper beaded edges of thetrough and upon the pads 45 secured thereto, as previously described, sothat the upper edges of the trough are placed under slight but positivecompression, the major contact falling upon the pads 45. In this manner,any tendency towards looseness and noise due to vibration of themetallic trough is or other suitable gasket or pad 49, this precludingany possible noise by reason of vibration between the metallic troughand the saddle.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, which corresponds in all otheressential respects to that disclosed in Fig. 6, the trough 4| occupies aposition in the interior of the, saddle a, being securedto the latterthrough the medium of the bolts 48, and if desired, a suitable gasketmay be interposed between the saddle and the trough.

. When the trough is positioned on the inside of the saddle, as in Fig.11, it is necessary to cut back the flanges 43 from the terminal end ofeach trough section to an extent providing a recess for accommodation ofthe saddle 25a. 1

Inthe embodiment shown in Fig. 12, the trough occupies the same relativeposition with respect to the saddle 251) as does the trough to thesaddle 25a in the embodiment of Fig. 11. It will be noted by referenceto Fig. 19 that the apertures 5| in the trough provided for reception ofthe bolts 48v are elongated longitudinally of the trough to 1 therebyfacilitate the proper mounting of I the trough elements in the saddleswith the edges of the adjacent trough sections in contiguous relation.

In the embodimentshown in Figs. 1'7 and 18, the manner of securingthetrough to the cross member 5 corresponds to the arrangementillustrated in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive. In this instance,

however, instead of. employing a trough composed of metal, I build upthe trough from a series of longitudinal wooden sections 52 which may bebolted against the inner faces of the saddles 25, the upper edges of thetopmost of the wooden trough sections lying under and preferably beingclamped at the inner rabbeted edges of the top members 39.

. In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated a modified form of. leg structureinvolving substantially the same principle of construction as that ofthe leg structure previously described but of a character adapted foruse with single-sided tables wherein the trough lies at the back of thetable-top. In

I bination with spaced aligned leg structures, each this case, the formand construction of the uprights is similar to that described in theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, and the respective bracket 54 whichsupports the journal. The cross bar 53, as shown in Fig. 5, is of boxformation and reinforced interiorly by oppositely disposed channelmembers 53, 53a. An aperture 55 is formed at each end in the crossmember 53 for reception of bolts 5% which extend through slots 57 in thesides of the legs 9, thereby providing for adjustment of either or bothends of the cross bar 53 in the uprights.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the legstructures are strong and rigid, and that the construction provides fora high degree of adjustability to meetthe varying conditions under whichtables of this character may be installed. The structure provides foradjustability as to effective height of, the table supported thereon andalsoyfor adjustment of the table-top to a true horizontal position,since the top member 5 or 5a may be adjusted to limited angles withrespect to the base by individual adjustments of the upper leg elementst in the respective lower uprights as previously set forth. Provision isalso made for accurate alignment of the line shafts I9 by individualadjustments of the brackets 9 or of the ends of the cross member 53. Theconstruction thus provides for adjustment of the leg structures tocompensate for irregularities in the floor or other supporting surfaceupon which they may be mounted. Accurate alignment of the leg,structures with respect to each other is thus provided for. Theconstruction also provides for an extremely efiicient mounting of thetrough in the leg structure through the medium of the depending saddlemembers, which as previously set forth are suspended from the uppercross bars 5 and 5a. This trough-supporting structure provides for awide choice of trough structure, which as set forth may be made eitherof metal or wood. Provision is also made for eliminating noises betweenthe various parts, and particularly between the metallic trough and theleg structure proper by employment of the dampening pads or gasketsdescribed above. I

I claim:

1. In a power-sewing machine table, the comvtrough into. said channel, amember connecting the upper ends of said strap and extendinglongitudinally within the channel, and means for detachably securingsaid member to the cross bar.

2. In a power-sewing machine table, the comof said structures comprisingan upper transverse cross bar of inverted channel form constituting asupport for a. table top, of a trough extending between said legstructures and below said cross bars, a trough-supporting strapextending along the bottom and upwardly at the sides of said trough intosaid channel, an upright channel member extending longitudinally andsecured within the inverted channel of said cross bar and having in eachend thereof and at thebottom a slotted longitudinal recess, the saidupper ends of said strap being turned into and being secured within therespective ends of said upright channel member, and a longitudinalreinforcing rib in said strap seating at the ends thereof in therespective recesses of said channel.

HOWARD T. HALLOWELL.

